Just days after filmmaker Sanjay Gupta’s demise, a video from his funeral in Mumbai took social media by storm. The clip, shared by a paparazzi page, purportedly shows his daughter, Dalai, making a middle-finger gesture towards photographers gathered outside. Gupta died on the night of October 30, 2026, at the age of 57, after suffering a fatal head injury in an accidental fall. As the video circulates widely, netizens are divided over the moment, sparking a heated online debate.

Sanjay Gupta’s wife breaks her silence

As the clip continued to circulate, Anuradha Lekhi Gupta, Sanjay’s wife, broke her silence with a statement. According to her, the couple’s children had grown up far from the limelight and were unprepared for the paparazzi’s intrusion, which left them deeply distressed during an already difficult time.Addressing the controversy, Anuradha Lekhi Gupta issued a note via Milap Zaveri. She wrote, “In their grief and anguish, some of their reactions may have been directed towards certain members of the media. I sincerely regret any hurt this may have caused. I humbly request everyone to understand these reactions for what they truly are – the expressions of grieving children struggling to come to terms with an irreparable loss.”

Sanjay Gupta’s wife urges privacy for grieving children

Anuradha also requested that people be understanding of her children, who are still coming to terms with losing their father. She urged the media and the public to delete any material that might hurt their young minds in the long run, and pleaded for the privacy, compassion and room they need to mourn.

Sanjay Gupta’s directorial career

Sanjay Gupta stepped into the director’s chair with ‘Aatish: Feel the Fire’ in 1994. Over the years, his filmography grew to include ‘Jung’, ‘Kaante’, ‘Musafir’, ‘Shootout at Wadala’ and ‘Kaabil’.